-DATE- 19720704 -YEAR- 1972 -DOCUMENT_TYPE- MEETING -AUTHOR- F. CASTRO -HEADLINE- TOUR OF SOVIET UNION-MEETING WITH MILITARY -PLACE- MOSCOW -SOURCE- MOSCOW DOMESTIC SVC -REPORT_NBR- FBIS -REPORT_DATE- 19720705 -TEXT- Meeting With Military Officials Moscow Domestic Service in Russian 1630 GMT 4 Jul 72 [Text] Fidel Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and prime minister of the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Cuba, and the party and state leaders accompanying him today met generals, admirals and officers of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The following participated in the meeting: Marshal of the Soviet Union Yakubovskiy, first deputy minister of defense of the USSR; Army General Kulikov, general chief of staff of the USSR armed forces; Army General Yepishev, head of the chief political directorate of the Soviet Army and Navy; Army General Sokolov, first deputy minister of defense of the USSR, and others. Marshal of the Soviet Union Grechko, USSR minister of defense, cordially welcomed the guests, conveyed greetings to them from the armed forces of the Soviet Union and wished them good health and every success in the building of socialism in Cuba. Addressing himself to Fidel Castro, the minister said: "Today we greet you not only as a fighter against imperialism but as an outstanding military leader, a leader of the armed struggle of the Cuban people. Soviet servicemen cherish feeling of deep respect for the Cuban people and its armed forces. We always rejoice at your successes and are always ready to come to your aid. As a token of the strong and unbreakable friendship of the peoples of the Soviet Union and Cuba and of their armed forces, Grechko presented Fidel Castro with a sword of honor. On behalf of the USSR general staff officers, Col Kurgozov greeted Fidel Castro and members of the Cuban delegation. A speech by Fidel Castro Ruz was warmly received. We appreciate the value of your presence, he said. This sword is a symbol of the army, which stands guard over the countries of the socialist camp and the whole revolutionary movement, a symbol of our friendship. Comrade Fidel Castro talked about the development of the Cuban armed forces, stressing the tremendous help that has been given and is still being given by the Soviet Union. At the most difficult times in our history, he said, you have always been by our side. This is why we regard the Soviet Union and its armed forces with such respect and admiration. Fidel Castro then spoke of his impressions of the visit to the Soviet Union. He said he is confident that in the future, too, cooperation between the Soviet Union and Cuba and between their armed forces will develop and strengthen. Marshal of the Soviet Union Grechko thanked Comrade Fidel Castro for the warm words he had for the Soviet armed forces. Then the minister presented a present to mark the occasion to Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, member of the secretariat of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee and minister of the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Cuba. -END-